We had a petition drive here yesterday to put a repeal of Ohio’s SB 5 on the ballot in November.
The gentlemen pictured ran the public event, which was held at the Steelworkers meeting hall.
Here’s We Are Ohio on what we’re doing:
Republican Legislators have passed Senate Bill 5 and Governor Kasich has signed the bill effectively eliminating collective bargaining rights. A coalition composed of working families and concerned Ohioans have already begun a referendum process which will prevent this legislation from taking effect and place the issue on the November 2011 ballot for a vote of the citizens of Ohio. Here is some information on the referendum process:
• 231,149 – Signatures needed to place a referendum of the law on the ballot.
• 44 – Minimum number of different counties where the petition signatures need to be collected.
• June 30 2011 – Final date for signatures if SB 5 is signed and filed with the Secretary of State by April 6.
• July 20, 2011 – Final day by which the Secretary of State must determine if there are enough valid signatures to place the referendum on the ballot.
• 91 – If no referendum petition is filed, SB 5 goes into effect 91 days after it was signed and filed with the SOS. If a referendum is filed, the law does not go into effect until and unless Ohioans vote to allow the bill to become law.
If you’re a registered Ohio voter and would like to sign a petition, you may still do so. Either follow the link and search for your city or county, or email me, and I’ll try to find you a petition that’s still out there to sign.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
Thank you kay.
Kay
@a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q):
It was fine. I only did an hour. These two were there all day. I talk more than I work at these things.
What with talking and taking pictures, I almost forgot to get my signatures. Almost .
How are you? I read your comment where you said you were having health problems.
AdamK
So if I want to sign the petition, I have to hurry up and call some lady in Beavercreek, make an appointment, hop in my car and drive there, meet the lady…?
This is what they’re calling a “petition drive”? Meaning, get in your car and DRIVE and spend half a day hunting down the PETITION?
Because I really can’t tell from the lameass website, which seems to consist mainly of an artfully arranged grid of pictures of people’s faces.
kay
@AdamK:
Well, you would click on find a petition and then look for a location near you.
kay
@AdamK:
I just tried it and found a location (somewhat) near me for Saturday. The person circulating the petition has to witness your signature, and it’s county-specific, ie: you can’t sign a petition that is labeled for some other county than that where you’re registered to vote.
Election process is always very specific and rule-bound.
PeakVT
Great work, Kay.
@AdamK: Maybe if you call the wahmbulance you can get a ride to the petition.
Villago Delenda Est
@kay
Which evades all the Rethuglican asshats screaming about “voter fraud” all the time, but have no problem with Diebold voting machines with back doors that allow for manipulation of election results, particularly when they favor Rethugs.
The entire point of the ACORN voter registration thing was that the phony forms didn’t result in any phony registered voters. The system worked. ACORN brought the questionable names TO THE ATTENTION of the registrar, as legally they had no choice but to submit the forms…and let the registrar make the call.
kay
@PeakVT:
I think it’s going well. I don’t know: I’ll have to ask 15 more people so I can get 15 more opinions on how it’s going. I was convinced last Saturday they were all making it sound better than it really is, but I get like that. I should stop polling people, because it’s useless.
Right this moment, I think it’s going well.
LGRooney
You need to change the picture since we only care about missing white girls from church-going homes in this country.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Kay: Thanks for asking. I’m okay, but symptoms continue, so I’m gonna have to get an MRI. The really good news is that the symptoms are no worse and not life threatening in any event.
dollared
Thank you, Kay. As the Republican front runner in my state just announced his gubernatorial bid, I fear that in 18 months’ time I’ll be holding a petition clipboard meself.
I’m glad you’re there for Ohio.
kay
@a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q):
Good luck. I’m glad it isn’t progressing, symptom-wise. I think that is is the really good news.
kgc16
I was lucky to sign a petition the other day at our local Wal-mart. Following your link, I found out that my husband and our son can sign a petition at the Granville Maker’s Market (just up the road from us) on Saturday! Thanks for taking time to keep everyone informed. (And maybe AdamK was being snarky. Sure hope so.)
kay
@dollared:
I don’t even know about the process, actually. I hate referendums. I think they mean your legislature is broken.
I’m not fond of direct democracy, generally, but I’m giving this a pass because Ohio GOP legislators lied about it when they filled out union questionaires pre-election, and Kasich never made his intentions known re: collective bargaining in the election.
Plus, it’s a coordinated national strategy by conservatives that they’re sneaking in under state(s) law, so that pisses me off.
Bill in OH
Found a location in Lakewood I can stop at on my way home from work on Monday. Thanks, Kay. I totally would have missed signing the petition if not for this post.
Chuck Butcher
If it weren’t for a 2500 mile commute and 35 year ex-pat status I’d be there. I owe Ohio for an execellent education and some other things.
artem1s
@kay:
what’s broken about Ohio’s law is how easy and often we are running to amend the state constitution when some interest group wants to get something done. Who uses a constitutional amendment to build casinos BEFORE you have a gaming commission, or laws to regulate gaming, or a contract with the parties who want to build the casinos? The neoc0nfederates have totally broken this state.
artem1s
@Bill in OH:
Bill, there are volunteers at the West Side Market every Saturday too.
JenJen
Kay, any word on how the drive is going? I helped at an event at Northside Tavern here in Cincinnati several weeks ago and was SO impressed at the turnout and amount of signatures we received. I hope the news is encouraging. I’m getting more worried by the day.
Bill in OH
@artem1s:
Thanks, artem1s. Good to know.
loretta
I ran into a petition person at the Library the other day, and I thanked her for being there. I think you can go to various libraries and find petitions.
I sure hope they get enough signatures.
Phil
I was biking home from work through Cleveland the other day and there were a few guys with a big sign and a petition outside the building workers’ union on Euclid at 32nd. I made sure to stop and sign.
A Farmer
I signed at a local bar when I saw a fireman I knew in there. He got a couple of more signatures then also. Last I heard, they had about the minimum number of signatures, but were looking to get more than twice the number necessary.
debbie
I’m surprised to see only one event in Columbus. Did they already have them? I heard nothing about them.
dollared
@kay: Amen to both sentiments. But we’re not winning with the electorate – they have rewarded both dishonesty and manipulation of direct democracy.
To be fair to the electorate, the stresses are pretty incredible. People are just looking for a way to ease the pain.
James E. Powell
@dollared:
I get that, really. But to be honest with the electorate, what have the Republicans, particularly in Ohio, ever done for working people?
South of the turnpike, Ohio is Kentucky. North of the turnpike, still driven by race-baiting.
redbeardjim
@James E. Powell: The only turnpike in Ohio is 80/90, which….there isn’t much north of that. Do you mean I-70?
James E. Powell
@redbeardjim:
I mean the Ohio Turnpike, I-80/90. It’s a rough, but useful dividing line.
dollared
@James E. Powell: Another way to say it is: Mississippi drainage, Confederacy. Great Lakes Drainage, Nixonland. Works for Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Oddly, Wisconsin is Lake Michigan drainage, Nixonland. Mississippi drainage, Massachusetts. Go figure.